Metropolitan Herman opens joint meeting of OCA Holy Synod, Metropolitan Council

For the first time in decades, a joint meeting of the Holy Synod of Bishops and Metropolitan Council was held on December 12, 2006, in Syosset, NY.

SYOSSET, NY [OCA Communications] — His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman, opened an extraordinatory joint meeting of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America and the Metropolitan Council on Tuesday, December 12, 2006.

The full text of Metropolitan Herman’s opening address reads as follows.

“Your Eminences, Your Graces, Venerable Fathers, Brothers and Sisters in
Christ:

“May I begin by thanking each and every one of you, my brother bishops and esteemed clergy and lay members of the Metropolitan Council, for taking time out of your busy schedules to participate in our deliberations this week.

“As we are all well aware, for the first time in many, many years, we are holding a joint meeting of the Holy Synod of Bishops and the Metropolitan Council. Many issues have been facing us, and continue to face us. As we review and discuss our past and present situation, let us invoke the Holy Spirit to guide us in our deliberations.

“Our joint meeting serves as a poignant reminder that, historically, a unique strength of the Orthodox Church in America, and prior to 1970 the ‘Metropolia,’ has been the high value we have placed on the full participation of all the faithful—laity, as well as bishops and other clergy—in all levels of Church life. Such participation—arguably characteristic of the early Church—was encouraged and at least partially mandated by the All-Russian Church Council of 1917-18, and before that by Saint Tikhon, who convened the First All-American “Sobor” in Mayfield, Pennsylvania in 1907.

“Unfortunately, this principle of conciliarity in recent years has been criticized as ‘uncanonical,’ even within the Orthodox Church in America, often in the name of ‘synodality.’ At the same time, there are also those who, going to the opposite extreme, opine that everything in the Church must involve both the hierarchy, clergy, and laity. It is well known, of course, that the Ecumenical Councils were not ‘clergy-lay’ gatherings; it is equally well known that synods, whether our own or those of the other autocephalous Churches, involve only the Church’s hierarchy.

“If anything good has come out of our current crisis, it is the healthy discussion and clarification of conciliarity, one that in the end can only have a positive effect on the life of the Church. It is evident that such things as the relationship between the Holy Synod, the All-American Council, the Metropolitan Council, and so on have been and are being scrutinized.

“I am confident that, in the end, this will contribute to an overall strengthening of our Church on all levels.

“At the same time, while the hierarchy, clergy, and laity all bear responsibility for the life of the Church, thereby sharing and maintaining a common mission; within each sphere functions do vary, as Saint Paul reminds us when he writes that “all parts” of the Church, like a human body, must function properly—and uniquely—in order to render the Church whole and complete. Hence, while the Church is clearly hierarchical, it is also conciliar.

“I hope that you will agree that we must bear all of this in mind as we review many, complex, detailed, and painful realities during our time together. This is especially so in the light of the fact that, in addition to hierarchs, clergy and laity, other ‘elements,’ so to speak, have entered into our situation, including lawyers and accountants, among others, upon whom we rely for advice on the appropriate courses of action we will be called upon to discern. This reality will have its greatest impact in the area of information sharing; and, as one of my brother bishops recently noted, it is not wise to disclose everything, especially that which is hardly edifying, to everyone. At the same time, all of us gathered here must be fully informed in order to make responsible and fully accountable decisions that will bring a resolution to those issues that we have been facing while restoring trust, peace, and a vision for the future to the life of our Church.

“With this in mind, during our time together we will focus on many serious matters. Without offering a commentary or ‘editorializing,’ I would like to present the following tasks that we will face.

“1. Mr. Steve Lamos, CPA, will offer a presentation on the 2004 and 2005 audits, the 2001-2005 review of appeals, and the 2006 nine-month report.

“2. Several hours have been set aside for a detailed report on the Proskauer-Rose investigation, which will be presented by Attorney Sarah Gold.

“3. Attorney James T Perry will offer a presentation on officers’ and directors’ liability.

“In conclusion, I wish to call to your attention that our meeting will conclude on Wednesday, December 13—the Feast of Saint Herman of Alaska.

“It was Saint Herman and his seven companions who planted the Church on this continent 202 years ago; who faced countless spiritual, material, and financial obstacles in their zeal to bring the Gospel to any and all who would receive it; and who provided the vision that has been entrusted to us as the Orthodox Church in America. It is my fervent prayer that, as we celebrate the Divine Liturgy on his feast, he will be our fervent intercessor as we struggle to resolve the countless spiritual, material, and financial obstacles we are confronting, to open a new chapter in the life of our Church on this continent, and to beg Our Most Merciful Lord to forgive us for our shortcomings and sins. I pray that you will agree that Wednesday will mark the beginning of the restoration of trust, faith, and love for Christ and His Church as we recommit ourselves to become ever more faithful laborers in the vineyard He has established and entrusted to our care.”

The meeting is slated to close on Wednesday, December 13.